update 10/30/2021 [ please see instagram.com/unpennedpals for the most up to date information & to reach out with questions]
Tay Tay is currently in the hospital on life support, following her brain surgery (frontal craniotomy) performed on october 18th, 2021. Tay Tay was able to have this procedure done with the support of community donations, and it was to remove bullet shrapnel from her skull, which
In
where the funds go: directly to Tay Tay's bank account, which is currently being managed by Ashlee, who is on the ground with her in Chicago. This GoFundMe is moderated by Gabe and Quinn. @unpennedpals is primarily moderated by Ashlee, and Tay Tay, Quinn, and Gabe also have access to it.
original gofundme description from 2019, during Tay Tay's clemency:
Tay Tay, aka Tayvia, is a black trans woman who has been incarcerated in various Illinois Department of Corrections facilities since she was a teenager. She has been transferred 25 times to 14 different men's facilities.
"For over 15 years, Tay Tay has consistently raised concerns about her physical safety that were ignored and even reinforced by IDOC personnel. IDOC employees have repeatedly targeted her with vulgar slurs, ignored direct requests for help, and actively stood by while she was being physically and sexually assaulted by other prisoners." -McArthur Justice Center page on her case
While incarcerated, she faced near-endless sexual, mental and physical trauma, from fellow inmates, Correctional Officers, and prison administrators alike, as a result of her identity as a black trans woman. The inhumane treatment the IDOC subjected her to, led her to team up with the McArthur Justice Center to pursue lawsuits and finally a clemency campaign . Her clemency campaign is currently in front of the governor.
Having been in prison for nearly 2 decades, she is starting over with virtually no material possessions or finances during a pandemic and a recession. She needs a fund to begin her life. For some perspective: Tay Tay was incarcerated before smart phones, Instragram, or FaceBook existed.
She is able to stay with family, but they are not supportive of her gender identity. She needs funds for her transition, including clothing, electrolysis, doctor's appointments, medical expenses and so forth. Tay Tay is also hoping to purchase a car, and needs to be able to pay for transportation, to medical appointments, job interviews, to get groceries and so forth.
While in prison, Tay Tay exhausted the educational opportunities available to her. She is hoping to continue her education when she is released, and needs funds towards college application fees, books, and tuition. Tay Tay is hoping to work with transgender youth and is interested in pursuing social work.
Tay Tay and I have been penpals since 2016.We met through Black and Pink , and now regularly talk by phone and instant messaging. Over the years, we have worked together to fundraise to keep her commissary fund well-stocked, which allowed her to avoid chow (the prison cafeteria) and keep herself safe from violence. There is also an Instagram moderated by me to broadcast her message .
thank you so much for your generosity!
Tay Tay is currently in the hospital on life support, following her brain surgery (frontal craniotomy) performed on october 18th, 2021. Tay Tay was able to have this procedure done with the support of community donations, and it was to remove bullet shrapnel from her skull, which
In
where the funds go: directly to Tay Tay's bank account, which is currently being managed by Ashlee, who is on the ground with her in Chicago. This GoFundMe is moderated by Gabe and Quinn. @unpennedpals is primarily moderated by Ashlee, and Tay Tay, Quinn, and Gabe also have access to it.
original gofundme description from 2019, during Tay Tay's clemency:
Tay Tay, aka Tayvia, is a black trans woman who has been incarcerated in various Illinois Department of Corrections facilities since she was a teenager. She has been transferred 25 times to 14 different men's facilities.
"For over 15 years, Tay Tay has consistently raised concerns about her physical safety that were ignored and even reinforced by IDOC personnel. IDOC employees have repeatedly targeted her with vulgar slurs, ignored direct requests for help, and actively stood by while she was being physically and sexually assaulted by other prisoners." -McArthur Justice Center page on her case
While incarcerated, she faced near-endless sexual, mental and physical trauma, from fellow inmates, Correctional Officers, and prison administrators alike, as a result of her identity as a black trans woman. The inhumane treatment the IDOC subjected her to, led her to team up with the McArthur Justice Center to pursue lawsuits and finally a clemency campaign . Her clemency campaign is currently in front of the governor.
Having been in prison for nearly 2 decades, she is starting over with virtually no material possessions or finances during a pandemic and a recession. She needs a fund to begin her life. For some perspective: Tay Tay was incarcerated before smart phones, Instragram, or FaceBook existed.
She is able to stay with family, but they are not supportive of her gender identity. She needs funds for her transition, including clothing, electrolysis, doctor's appointments, medical expenses and so forth. Tay Tay is also hoping to purchase a car, and needs to be able to pay for transportation, to medical appointments, job interviews, to get groceries and so forth.
While in prison, Tay Tay exhausted the educational opportunities available to her. She is hoping to continue her education when she is released, and needs funds towards college application fees, books, and tuition. Tay Tay is hoping to work with transgender youth and is interested in pursuing social work.
Tay Tay and I have been penpals since 2016.We met through Black and Pink , and now regularly talk by phone and instant messaging. Over the years, we have worked together to fundraise to keep her commissary fund well-stocked, which allowed her to avoid chow (the prison cafeteria) and keep herself safe from violence. There is also an Instagram moderated by me to broadcast her message .
thank you so much for your generosity!
Organizer and beneficiary
Tay Tay
Beneficiary